Years & Years - Shine

For a minute there, it looked like Years & Years might have overdone it on the pingers. From ‘Desire’ to ‘King’, this was a trio only going upwards - both in the charts and in terms of bonkers dance-pop euphoria. They’ve simmered down a touch on ‘Shine’, but that doesn’t prevent this from being any less of an all-out giant.

‘Shine’ is taken from an album called ‘Communion’, but instead of togetherness, loneliness and heartbreak seem to be the overriding themes of Years & Years’ debut. Olly Alexander deals with the heavy topics better than most, flipping grim reality on its head, switching torment to triumph. Love deals out difficult hands, and this is the trio’s best attempt yet at summing up the pendulum-swing of a stormy relationship.